Fraction collector

ABSTRACT

A rectangular array of containers arranged in rows and columns is supported beneath a filling structure. A flexible endless drive member is mounted to move through a pattern corresponding to the array of containers, and the filling structure is drivingly coupled to a segment of the flexible endless drive member. A single drive motor operates the flexible endless drive member sequentially to move the filling structure into registration with each container.

Unite States Patent [72] Inventor Warren E. Gilson 3,247,454 4/1966 Gale et 74/37X 3,450,173 6/1969 Maizel................. 3,477,478

4801 Sheboygan Ave., Madison, Wis. 53705 [1/1969 Robenson et Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr.

AltorneyMason, Kolehmainen, Rathburn & Wyss he lpV 6 O SHMN o. d N m L n wm fla AFD- UN 224 [54] FRACTION COLLECTOR 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A rectangular array of containers arranged in rows and columns is supported beneath a filling structure. A flexible endless drive member is mounted to move through a pattern corresponding to the array of containers, and the filling structure is drivingly coupled to a segment of the flexible endless drive member. A single drive motor operates the flexible endless drive member sequentially to move the filling structure into registration with each container.

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FRACTION COLLECTOR The present invention relates to fraction collectors and more particularly to an improved and simplified fraction collector wherein fluid is supplied to an array of containers.

Among the many known types of fraction collectors are devices for sequentially positioning a filling structure over individual containers of a rectangular container array having rows and columns. Known fraction collectors of this type are unduly complicated because of the necessity for achieving two-dimensional or two-dimensional movement of the filing structure relative to the container array. Movement in two directions is customarily accomplished by means of two individual drive motors and/or drive systems which must be separately operated and which must be properly synchronized with one another. For example, in one known fraction collector an indexing means operates to move the filling structure along a row of containers, and when the row is completed, another indexing means moves the filling structure in the transverse direction to the next adjacent row.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an improved fraction collector of simplified construction wherein separate drive motors and/or drive systems are not required; to provide a fraction collector including only a single drive motor and drive system for moving a filling structure in a pattern over an array of containers; and to provide a simplified, dependable and rugged fraction collector device.

In brief, a fraction collector embodying the features of the present invention may comprise a table having an upper supporting surface upon which are supported a rectangular array of containers which may conveniently be kept in their original carton. An upper slide member incorporating a suitable container filling structure is movably mounted above the array of containers and is sequentially brought into position over each of the containers by a novel and simplified drive arrangement including an endless flexible member mounted below the table for movement through a path corresponding to the container array. A lower slide member is driven by a segment of the endless flexible member and is drivingly related to the upper slide member. A single drive motor is used to advance the endless flexible member through its path of movement.

In order to permit two-directional movement of the upper slide member, a support bed is mounted beneath the table for sliding movement in one rectangular direction with respect to the table. The support bed includes a pair of upwardly extending side support members extending above the table surface at opposite sides of the table. The lower slide member is mounted on the bed and beneath the table for sliding movement in the other rectangular direction, and the upper slide member is mounted above the table surface and between the side supports for sliding movement in the other rectangular direction. Consequently, movement of the upper slide member and associated filling structure in a first direction is accomplished by sliding movement of the support bed, while movement of the upper slide member in the other rectangular direction is accomplished by sliding movement of the upper slide member with respect to the support bed.

The endless flexible member supported on the underside of the table is drivingly engaged with the lower slide member for moving the lower slide member through a pattern corresponding to the container array. The lower slide member is drivingly connected to the upper slide member for moving it through a corresponding pattern above the containers. A single drive motor coupled to the endless flexible member is periodically energized to sequentially advance the upper slide member from container to container in a boustrphedon pattern until each container has been filled.

The invention together with the above and other objects and advantages may be best understood from consideration of one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a fraction collector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. I wherein the underside of the apparatus is revealed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus taken from the lines 3-3 of FIGS. I and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6- 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an improved fraction collector designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10 and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In general, the fraction collector 10 includes a table 12 upon which is supported a rectangular array of containers 14 arranged in rows and columns. A suitable filling structure 16 associated with an upper slide I8 is moved sequentially into registration over each of the containers 14. In accordance with an important feature of the invention the filling structure 16 is moved over the array of containers 14 in a predetermined pattern by means of a single drive motor 20 and a single drive system described in greater detail below.

One advantage of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention resides in the fact that the table 12 provides a simple, planar support surface 22 over which the filling structure 16 moves. As a result, the containers I4 can be kept in their original container or shipping carton 24 when used with the fraction collector l0, and the time-consuming operation of mounting the containers in a tray or other holding device is avoided. The tops or caps of the containers 14, if any, are removed prior to discharging liquid into the containers. Alternatively the containers may be loaded into a rack or other holder prior to being filled.

The construction of the filling structure I6 is incidental to an understanding of the present invention and is not illustrated in the drawings. Liquid to be discharged into the containers I4 is supplied from a suitable source of supply through a flexible supply tube 26 to the filling structure 16, which may for example be incorporated into or mounted upon the upper slide 18. Measured amounts of fluid are discharged downwardly from the filling structure 16 through a downwardly projecting nozzle or discharge tube 28. By way of example, the filling structure 16 may incorporate known volume measuring, drop counting, or time-controlled arrangements for discharging fluid through the nozzle 28 in measured amounts.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel drive system for moving the upper slide 18 and the associated filling structure 16 in a pattern sequentially over each of the containers 14 in a simple fashion using the single drive motor 20. More specifically, in accordance with the invention there is provided a flexible endless member 30 mounted for movement through a path, a portion of which comprises a boustrophedon pattern corresponding to the illustrated array of containers 14 to be filled. Other container arrays and patterns of movement are possible. One segment of the flexible endless member 30 is drivingly related to the upper slide 18 so that as the segment of the member 30 moves through a pattern corresponding to the container array, the slide 18 moves through a similar pattern over the containers 14. The member 30 is sequentially advanced in predetermined increments by means of the single drive motor 20.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description of the fraction collector 10, the table 12 preferable comprises a single rigid tabletop member conveniently serving not only to support the array of containers I4 but also to support much of the structure of the fraction collector 10. The table 12 is supported above a suitable supporting surface by means of legs 32 attached to the table at its corners. The drive motor 20 is contained in a motor housing 34 located to the side of the container supporting surface 22. In order to apply a driving force to the flexible endless member 30, a drive belt 36 is trained around a drive pulley carried by the motor shaft and around a pulley 40 carried by a shaft 42 extending through the table 12 and mounted for rotation in a suitable bearing construction 34. A drive gear 46 mounted on the lowermost portion of the shaft 42 drivingly engages the flexible endless member 30.

Although various types of flexible endless drive members could be used, including, but not limited to, belts cords, tapes, and the like, in the illustrated arrangement the member 30 comprises a chain. The chain 30 is mounted for movement through its path of movement on the drive gear 46 and on a plurality of fixed idlers 48, and is maintained in tension by means of a movably mounted idler 50 spring-biased by means of a lever arm 52 and spring 54.

In order to permit the filling structure 16 and upper slide 18 to move in two rectangular directions over the table 14, the upper slide 18 is slidably mounted for movement in one direction on a supporting bed structure generally designated as 56, and the bed structure is slidably mounted on the table 12 for movement in the order rectangular direction. Referring more specifically to the bed structure 56, a support bed or plate 58 is slidably mounted beneath the table 12 for movement in one direction with respect to the table 12 and with respect to the rectangular array of containers 14. The direction of slidable movement of the plate 58 is referred to herein as the direction of container columns, while the transverse direction is referred to herein as the direction of container rows.

In order slidably to support the plate 58, a plurality of channel supports 60, 62, and 64 are supported beneath the table by means of support plates 66. A plurality of hearings or rollers 68 supported on the underside of the plate 58 are engageable with the channel supports 60, 62, and 64 for permitting the plate 58 to slide easily back and forth in the direction of container columns, while preventing movement of the plate 58 in other directions.

Extending upwardly at either end of the plate 58 and to the side of the table 12 are a pair of side support members 70 and 72. The upper slide member 18 is slidably mounted for movement in the direction of container rows on a pair of slide bars 74 and 76 extending between the side support members 70 and 72 above the array of containers 14. The upper slide members 18 is provided with suitable low friction bearing means or the like (not shown) so that the slide member 18 slides easily back and forth along the bars 74 and 76.

Movement of one segment of the chain 30 produces corresponding movement of the upper slide member 18 by means of a lower slide member 78 movably mounted on the support bed structure 56 and drivingly interconnected between the chain 30 and the upper slide member 18. The lower slide member 78 is slidably mounted on a pair of slide bars 80 and 82 extending between a pair of spaced support blocks 84 and 86 mounted on the upper side of the plate 58. The lower slide member 78 is slidably related to the bars 80 and 82 in any suitable manner, and as illustrated, suitable low-friction bearing means or the like is slidably engaged with the bar 80, while a fork member 87 is sandwiched around the bar 82 to prevent rotational movement of the member 78 around the bar 80.

The lower slide member 78 is moved by a segment of the chain 30 through a pattern corresponding to the container array, and the lower slide member 78 in turn moves the upper slide member 18 thereby sequentially to position the filling structure 16 over each of the containers 14. One link 30A of the chain 30 includes a downwardly extending drive pin 88 drivingly connected to the lower slide member 78. In order to reduce the friction of operation and to permit the pin 88 freely to turn in the lower slide member, a suitable bearing structure 90 is provided. Movement of the link 30A of the chain 30 is transmitted to the lower slide member 78 by the drive pin 88, and movement in the direction of container rows is transmitted to the upper slide member 18 by a drive means in the form of a chain 92 to which are fixed both the lower slide member 78 and the upper slide member 18.

More specifically, the lower slide member includes an outwardly extending arm 94, the end of which is clamped tightly about the chain 92. The chain is also clamped to the upper slide member 18 by means of a clamp member 96 attached to the chain. The chain is trained around a series of four idler pulleys 98, 100, 102, and [04 supported on the side supports 70 and 72 to the end that the chain traverses a generally rectangular path including sides disposed both above and below the table 12.

Any suitable control circuit may be used for operating the illustrated apparatus 10 to carry out a container-filling operation. Such a circuit, for example, may control the filling structure 16 in timed relation with operation of the motor 20. In order to index the position of the filling structure 16, and specifically of the nozzle or discharge tube 28 with respect to the positions of the containers 14, the lower slide member 78 is provided with a switch 106 adapted to be operated by a plurality of switch-operating pins or abutments 108 located at spaced intervals along the plate 58 and corresponding to the positions of containers 14 of each container row. The switch 106 is preferably connected in controlling relation with the motor 20 so that when the switch 106 is operated by engagement with a pin 108, the motor 20 is deenergized until such time as it is reoperated by the control circuit or the like.

In order to halt movement of the upper slide member and filling structure 18 when all of the containers 14 in the container array have been filled, there is provided an additional switch 110 on the underside of the table 12 and engaged by a portion of the lower slide member 78 as the upper slide member 18 moves from the last container 14 back toward the beginning of the container-filling cycle. A drain tube 112 is located to the side of the array of containers beneath the discharge outlet or nozzle 28 when the upper slide member 18 is stopped by engagement of the switch 110 by the lower slide member 78.

In view of the above-detailed description of its construction, the mode of operation of the fraction collector 10 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In order to commence a fraction collection operation with the apparatus 10, the liquid supply tube 26 is interconnected with a source of liquid sample material and a rectangular array of containers 14 in the shipping carton 24 is placed on the supporting surface 22. Initially, following a preceding fraction collection operation the upper slide 18 and associated filling structure 16 is in its home position with the nozzle 28 aligned over the drain tube 112 and the switch 110 is engaged with the lower slide member 78 beneath the table 12. When the motor 20 is energized, the link 30A of chain 30 is advanced around the drive gear or roller 46 until the switch 106 is operated by the first of the switchoperating pins 108 supported on the plate 58. At this time the motor is deenergized to halt the upper slide member 18 over the first container 14 in the first container row.

With the nozzle 28 directed downwardly into the first container 14, a predetermined quantity of fluid is discharged into the container 14 by the filling structure 16. At the end of the fluid discharge operation, the motor 20 is again operated to advance the chain 30 and thereby to move the upper slide member 18. When the switch 106 carried by the lower slide member 78 engages the next adjacent switch-operating pin 108, the motor is again deenergized. At this time the nozzle 28 is disposed over the second container 14 of the first container row. This step-by-step advancement of the upper slide member 18 and associated filling structure 16 continues until each of the containers 14 in the first container row has been filled.

At the end of the operation of filling the final container 14 in the first container row, the chain link 30A of the chain 30 reaches the first of the idlers 48 and the link moves around the idler 48 to advance the lower slide member 78 to the next linear segment in the boustrophedon pattern traversed by the chain. As this occurs, the bed support structure 56 including the plate 58 is moved in the container column direction to position the upper slide member 18 over the first container 14 of the second container row. In view of the fact that the filling structure 16 traverses a boustrophedon pattern, the first container of the second container row is immediately adjacent to the last container 14 of the first container row.

in this manner, the container-filling operation continues successively in a boustrophedon pattern until each of the containers in the rectangular array has been filled. Following the operation of filling the final container 14 of the final container row, the link 30A of the chain 30 moves around the spring biased idler 50 and back toward its home position. When the switch 110 is again operated, the motor is once again deenergized to bring the nozzle 28 to a halt over the drain tube 112.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A fraction collector comprising a fixed table defining a supporting surface for an array of containers disposed in rows and columns; a support bed mounted beneath said table for sliding movement in the direction of container columns; said support bed including a pair of side supports extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table; a lower slide member mounted below said table on said bed for sliding movement along said bed in the direction of container rows; an upper slide member mounted above said supporting surface between said side supports for sliding movement in the direction of container rows; drive-coupling means connected between said upper slide member and said lower slide member for moving said upper slide member in response to movement of said lower slide member; an endless flexible member supported beneath said table for movement through a path at least a portion of which forms a boustrophedon pattern corresponding to the rows and columns of containers; means drivingly interconnecting said lower slide member and one portion of said endless flexible member for moving said lower slide member through said boustrophedon pattern; and drive means for intermittently advancing said endless flexible means for sequentially locating said upper slide member over individual ones of said containers.

2. The fraction collector of claim 1, comprising a chain.

3. The fraction collector claim 1, indexing means for stopping said upper slide member in alignment with individual containers.

4. The fraction collector of claim 3, said indexing means comprising switch means carried on said lower slide member, and a plurality of switch-operating members mounted on said support bed beneath said table.

5. The fraction collector of claim 1, a drain tube mounted above said table to one side of said container array, the path of said endless flexible member including a portion for moving said upper slide member above said drain tube, and means for stopping said upper slide member above said drain tube.

said endless member 

1. A fraction collector comprising a fixed table defining a supporting surface for an array of containers disposed in rows and columns; a support bed mounted beneath said table for sliding movement in the direction of container columns; said support bed including a pair of side supports extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table; a lower slide member mounted below said table on said bed for sliding movement along said bed in the direction of container rows; an upper slide member mounted above said supporting surface between said side supports for sliding movement in the direction of container rows; drive-coupling means connected between said upper slide member and said lower slide member for moving said upper slide member in response to movement of said lower slide member; an endless flexible member supported beneath said table for movement through a path at least a portion of which forms a boustrophedon pattern corresponding to the rows and columns of containers; means drivingly interconnecting said lower slide member and one portion of said endless flexible member for moving said lower slide member through said boustrophedon pattern; and drive means for intermittently advancing said endless flexible means for sequentially locating said upper slide member over individual ones of sAid containers.
 2. The fraction collector of claim 1, said endless member comprising a chain.
 3. The fraction collector claim 1, indexing means for stopping said upper slide member in alignment with individual containers.
 4. The fraction collector of claim 3, said indexing means comprising switch means carried on said lower slide member, and a plurality of switch-operating members mounted on said support bed beneath said table.
 5. The fraction collector of claim 1, a drain tube mounted above said table to one side of said container array, the path of said endless flexible member including a portion for moving said upper slide member above said drain tube, and means for stopping said upper slide member above said drain tube. 